Spreader and dispenser of bobby pins



March 31, 1942. R. P. sHARP, sR

SPREADER AND DISPENSER-.OF BOBBY PINS Filed Sept. 10j 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 75 7 j QZ y j 7 5. z 2 E M u y mllwllw. jf a llllHLlllll V /J a e- Ma E MU Ww w m 7 w M @im/ N 54| Q@ ff Marcl'x 31, 1942. R, p slump,l 'SR 2,277,996

sPREADER-AND DIsPEN'sER'oF BOBBY PINS Filed Sept. l0., 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s 5 5 S f if i Patented Mar.. 3l, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFici; r

sPnEAnEa AND lrrsnnsaa or Bonny `Ralph P. Sharp, Sr., Carville, La. Application september 1o, 1941, serai No. 410,350

6 Claims.

This invention is a device for feeding bobby pins such as are customarily used to hold the hair in place and is particularly advantageous for use in beauty parlors or other places where a plurality of pins must be rapidly applied.

An object of the invention is to provide a bobby pin feeder which feeds a spread bobby pin to the hair to grip the same in proper position.

Figure 2 is a back plan view showing the ejector member in retracted position;

Figure 3 is an end elevation o1' the device;

Figure 4 is a detailed view, partly in section, showing theejector member about to engage a pin in the magazine and taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Of equal importance with the foregoing ob- I jects, the invention includes a magazine capable of holding a substantial number of bobby pins so that the operator will have suflicient pins to take care of the requirements of the most exacting hair style without havingto stop and reload the device.

The device meets a very serious condition which exists at the present time and is particularly to be found in beauty parlors where large numbers of bobby pins are applied daily. It is customary for the operator to pry the legs of the pin apart either with the ngernail or by means of the teeth, and it is well known that such expedients are both dangerous and unsanitary. Devices in the nature of spreaders have `been proposed but these are objectionable, because, it is necessary to hold each pin manually in spread condition to apply them to the hair. This is a slow operation, because the pins must be applied individually and, also dangerous since, being of spring metal, they are quite frequently accidentally released and stab the flesh of the operator..

The construction of the present invention includes a magazine for holding a suitable number of bobby pins, means for automatically feeding the pins one at a time to an ejector member which is operated by the finger of one hand of the operator. 'Ihis ejector member moves the pin into contact with a spreader device whereby the legs of the pin are spread as the pin is ejected so that it may be positioned properly upon the hair. The continued movement of the ejector device causes the spreader member to release the pin and permit the legs to spring together to' properly grip and hold the hair.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing theejector member in retracted position;

`the body wall Figure 5 is a similar view showing the pin engaged by both the ejector and spreader devices and the pin in spread and in partly ejected position;

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing the ejector member at the limit of its ejecting movement about to release a pin from the device;

' Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line l-l of Y Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a sectional of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing the pivotalmounting of -the spreader and releasing member;

Figure 10 is a sectional view showing the spreader and releasing member in its releasing position;

Figure l1 is a section Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the spreader and releasing member; and

Figure 13 is a section on the line |3-I3 of on the line II-II of Figure 3.

The device may be made of any desired material, preferably metal or plastic, of a total ger of that hand without unduly tiring the op.

erator. Referring to Figure 1, the construction includes a magazine Ill, the-edges of which are provided ,with overturned guide flanges Il and i2 of which is slotted as shown at i3 to provide a guide for an automatic feeding device in the form of a .spring pressed pressure shoe i4. This pressure shoe, as shown in Figure 7, has a lug l5, which extends through the slot, and a suitable retaining'member I6 connected thereto whereby the pressure shoe is held in position to slide in said slot to automatically7 feed the bobby pins in position to be engaged by the ejector device. The automatic feeding of the pressure shoe is produced in any suitable manner. .For instance, in the form shown in Figure 3,

to it one end of a cord l1 which is carried around a suitable spool I8 and the opposite end thereof is attached thereto. The spool is rotatably mounted upon a shaft I 9` carried by and xed view on the line 8-8 the retaining member I6 has attached .to load the magazine, the operator pulls as shown in Figures 3 and 1. A suitable coil spring 2I is positioned yupon the fixed shaft I9, one Aend being secured thereto and the other end being secured to the spool I8 which is rotatably mounted on the shaft. When it is l(dlesired v e retaining member and with it ,the shoe out of the slot I3 and positions the shoe in a pair of spaced bracket members 22 on the outside face of the body wall I2. as shown in Figure 2, where it is resiliently held during the loading. The magazine is loaded by positioning a card uponwhich the bobby pins are usually sold against the free open end of the magazine and simply pushing the pins into the same, so that their ends are ejector device and slides the same back and forth positioned beneath the overturned flanges II.

When in this position, the flat sides f of the pins engage the wall I2 of the magazine and preferably the longer leg l is on the bottom, i. e. in contact'with the wall I2. Thereafter, the operator removes the shoe from the brackets and engages the same with the said rear wall I2 of the magazine, so that the shoe -and retaining member are on opposite sides of the magazine wall with the shoe engaging and resiliently pressing the edge of the outermost bobby pin, as shown in Figures 1 and 6. 'In this position, the pins are resiliently held and pressed upwardly towards the ejector end of the device (to be described next) by reason of the resilient force of the spring 2l, above described.

Referring to Figure 7, the wall of the magazine at its upper end terminates in a wall I2 of a block 23 which extends at right angles to the wall I2 and forms a guide against which the pins to be ejected are successively positioned by the spring pressed plunger shoe I4. The block 23 is of a length substantially greater than the width of the magazine, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, and carries the ejector and spreader means which will now be described. Y

On its outer or exposed surface, the block is provided with a longitudinally extending guide slot or groove 24 and, at one end, the said block is provided with a longitudinally extending elongated recess 25, as shown in Figures 3 and-9. The ejector device indicated as a whole at E carries .a nger loop 26 to which is connected a pair of parallel spaced arms 21, which at their free end are connected to the ejector foot 28. This ejector foot and the finger ring 26, connect the ends of the spaced parallel arms 21 and hold them fixed in proper spaced relation for a purpose which will be later described. This spaced relation is such, that the arms will slide freely upon and be guided by the upstanding block 23 to cause the ejector device contact surface 29 to always engage theclosed end of a bobby pin bearing against the upstanding wall surface I2', as shown in Figures 1 and 7. The inner arm 21, i. e. the one adjacent the magazine, terminates in or carries the said ejector device contact surface 29. The ejector foot 28 is provided with,

an upstanding portion 30 which, in the rearward movement of the ejector device, serves to limit its travel by engagement with a stop 3I in the form of a band through which the legs 21 may freely slide and be guided, the said band being connected by welding or otherwise to the upstanding block 23 in any suitable manner. In this connection, a pair of finger grip rings 32 may likewise be secured to the upstanding block 23 in any suitable manner and, are positioned to extend so that they may be conveniently gripped 2,277,996 tospaced lugs 20 at one edge of the back plate,

in two of the fingers of one hand while another finger of that'hand'or the thumb operates the by engaging the finger ring 26. That is, the ring members 32 are positioned clear of the sliding movement of the ejector device under the action of the finger ring 28. In the forward movelment of the ejector device, one ofthe arms 21,

preferably the outer one or the one other than that carrying the pin engaging contact surface 29, has an inwardly extending guide flange 33 which engages in the groove 24 in the block and is guided thereby, as shown in Figure 13.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that pins are automatically positioned against the inner surface of the block 23, namely against the smooth upstanding wall surface I2 thereof, where they are successively engaged by the ejector contact surface 29 of the ejector device E when the latter is moved forwardly by the nger. When a pin is moved forward by the ejector device, as stated above, it is also simultaneously spread and the means for accomplishing this will now be set forth. Pivotally disposed in the recess 25 in the block 23 is a spreader member indicated as a whole at S and shown in detail in Figure l2. 'Ihis spreader member has a body 34 and includes on one side thereof a camv surface 35 adapted to be engaged by the ejector foot on the outer arm 21 in its ejecting movement and, on the opposite side, has a pin spreading cam or wedge 36, the lower part of which is, as shown in Figures 1l and l2, slightly undercut to a depth somewhat in excess of the thickness of the metal of the usual bobby pin and which is disposed in the path of the movement of the pin as itis being ejected by the ejector device. The spreader member is pivotally held in the recess 25 `by the pivot pin 31, and is resiliently positioned in the path of movement of a pin ejected by the ejector device,'as shown in Figures 4 and 5, by means of a wire spring 38, which bears by one end against the outer edge of the pivotally1 mounted spreader member and has its other end connected to the upper surface of the block 23 as by a pin 39, as shown in ,Figure 3. By reason of this construction, as a-pin is fed forward, it is simultaneously spread while it is being ejected by reason of the legs of the pin engaging and being n It is to be noted that the cam surface 35 projects outwardly from the upstanding block 23 a suillcient distance so that the outer leg 21 will always engage the same to automatically release the pin at the limit of movement of the ejecting device.

Upon return of the ejector member to retracted position, as shown in Figure 1, the plunger shoe Il moves another pin into ejecting position against the wall I2' automatically in readiness for the next ejection and, at the same time, the

v spreader member is returned to its normal posi- I tion with the wedge 36 in the path of ejecting movement of a bobby pin, as shown in Figure 9, by reason of the action of the spring 38. In this connection, it will be noted that the spring 38 causes the side edge Lof the spreader member to engage an upstanding wall 4I formed integral In the operation of the device, the operator, j

a card of bobby e with as heretofore described, places pins adjacent the free end of the mag the fiat sides disposed so that they will lay upon the plate I2 Vand with the longer at side in engagement therewith. in such a manner that the ends of the pins are received beneath the flanges li of the magazine and with the closed ends positioned under the flange to the left, as shown `in Figure 8. Thereupon, the pressure shoe is removed from the retaining'brackets 22 so that it will operate in the slot and resiliently engage the supply of x pins in the magazine. When the pins are loaded in the magazine, they lie edge to edge with the rst pin to be ejected bearing against the inner surface l2 of the upstanding block 23, as .shown in Figures l, Grand 7. The ejector member is in retracted position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the operator then grips the device, placing two ngers in the rings 32 and another finger or thumb of the same hand in the nger ring 26. The operator has the other hand entirely free to work upon the hair which is advantageous and,

device or pull the hair and thereby discomfort the patron being treated.

The operator now retracts the ejector device', another pin isLpositlohed automatically against the wall |2 in readiness tobeejected. and simultaneously the spreader member is automaticalhr returned to itssspreading position 4in the path of ejection of the pin and with its edge 40 in engagement with the upstanding wall 4| of the mouth M. `The operation may thus be repeated to automatically and constantly feed spread pins vto the hair until the supply of pins is exhausted and, as will be appreciated, any suitable number tof pins may be carried/in the magazine.

While it is customary for beauty parlors and hairdressing salons to obtain their bobby pins on a card from which they may be readily fed to the magazine of the present device, as heretofore Il to slidably described, it is not. of course, difficult to insert pins individually in the magazine. In' some cases,the bobby pins are collected by the beauty shops and, by reason of this device, they need not be wasted, as the device opens all pins the same distance without damage to the pins, such as springing or bending. The pins can therefore be used over and over again in perfect shape.

n; wm belobserved that the construction in-v cludes a magazinewith means for automatically as heretoforestated, the present device is of such light weight that it maybe operated without inconveniencing the pperator or causing discomfort to the person whose hair is being dressed.

the headand moves the ejector device forward by movement of thennger engaging in the ring 26. This causes the ejector device contact surface 29 to engage the closed end of the pin-to be ejected, as shown in Figure 4 and, as the ejector device moves forward, the free) ends of'the pin move in a path to engage the wedge 36 by which they are spread as the ejector device moves the pin forwardly, as shown in Figure 5. The ejector device continues its forward movement at the same time spreading the pin upon the hair7 and when the front end of the outer arm 21 engages the cam surface 35, and the ejector device continues to move, the spreader device is rocked AThe operator now positions the device adjacent vof the pin during the as well as means for The construction not feeding pins therefrom, ejecting a spread pin.

`only provides for ejecting-a spread pin but for releasing the same upon the hair and, it is to 'b l observed, that the ejector device and the spreader device operate simultaneously to eject and spread the pin, and the operator retains perfect control entire operation.

I claim: f

1. A bobby pin feeder comprising a magazine,

means for feeding pins therefrom, means for. ejecting a spread pin, and

finger grip rings aslsociated with the magazine and the ejecting outwardly on its pivot 37, as shown in Figure 10, q

the limit of its forward movement and the spreader member moves completely out of the path to allow the pin to clear the mouth. This ejection of the pin from the, device takes place with a spring-like action due to the fact that up to this point, the legs of the pin have been spread andl when the spreader device moves completely out of the path of the pin being ejected, and the ejector device is at the limit of its forward ejecting movement. whereby the pin is released, the resilient action. of the legs in springing together causesvthe pin to leave the mouth under a slight force which, at all times, will'assure that the pins will not become clogged in the mouth of the device but will be released cleanly upon thehair. This is of considerable 'importance in that it insures that the operator means, whereby the feeder can be one hand of the operator.

rings associated mounted to lrelease the pin at movement by the ejector device, and finger grip actuated by 2.'A bobby zine, means for for ejecting a s in engagement pin feeder comprising a magalfeeding pins therefrom, means read pin and releasing the same with the hair, and riger grip with the magazine and the ejecting means, whereby the feeder can be actuated by one hand `of the operator.

3. A bobby pin feeder comprising a magazine,

means for feeding pins therefrom, and means for electing a spread pin, comprising an ejector device and a spreader device simultaneously operating' to eject and spread/ said last named means the pin, and nger grip rings associated with the magazine and the ejector device, whereby the feeder can be actuated by onehand of the operator.

4. A bobby pin feeder comprising a magazine,

means for feeding pins therefrom, and means for ejecting a spread pin, said Y last named means comprising an ejector device and a spreader device simultaneously operating to eject and'spread the pin, said spreader device being movably the limit of its rings associated with the magazine and 'the ejector device, whereby the feeder can be actuated by-one hand of the operator.

5. A bobby pin feeder comprising a magazine, means for feeding pins therefrom, and

means for ejecting a spread pin, said last named means comprising an ejector device and a spreader device simultaneously operatingto eject 4 emmen and spread the pin, means for moving the ejector device, said spreader device being movabiy 6. A bobby pin feeder comprising 'a' magazine, means for feeding pins therefrom, and means for ejecting a spread pin. said ieeder being adapted to be heid in-one hand and said means being manually operable by movement o! a single finger of that hand.

RALPH P. SHARP, sn. 

